Lower-Priced McLaren 540C Makes Debut in Shanghai

At the Shanghai auto show, McLaren unveiled the second model in its Sports Series lineup, the 540C Coupe. Like the previously-shown 570S, the new model brings the automaker's racing DNA to a new, lower-priced segment. The McLaren 540C Coupe will be the most attainable model in the brand's portfolio.

During the debut of the 2016 McLaren 570S at the 2015 New York auto show, we heard that the 540C Coupe would be powered by the same M838T E twin-turbo 3.8-liter, V-8 engine found in the current McLaren 650S; however the engine would be slightly detuned to produce 532 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The 570S features the same engine tuned to 562 hp and 443 lb-ft. Paired with the seven-speed seamless shift gearbox (SSG), the 540C is estimated to sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds, and climb to 124 mph in 10.5 seconds on to a top speed of 199 mph.

Like with the 570S, the entry-level McLaren 540C will feature the carbon fiber MonoCell II chassis that focuses more on daily usability than track days. The new chassis features class-leading safety, and thanks to its aluminum body panels, it weighs just under 3,000 pounds, nearly 330 pound lighter than its closest competitor.

Inside, McLaren designers have outfitted the latest model with standard leathers seats, a leather dashboard, and leather-trimmed lower doorsdoor panels, along with a floating center console with a seven-inch IRIS touchscreen with incorporated climate control, first seen on the McLaren P1.